American Technion Society in the newshttp://medicalxpress.com/
en-usprovides the latest news from American Technion SocietyResearchers discover a cell in spinach that uses sunlight to produce electricity and hydrogenUsing a simple membrane extract from spinach leaves, researchers from the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology have developed a bio-photo-electro-chemical (BPEC) cell that produces electricity and hydrogen from water using sunlight. The raw material of the device is water, and its products are electric current, hydrogen and oxygen. The findings were published in the August 23 online issue of Nature Communications.http://phys.org/news/2016-09-cell-spinach-sunlight-electricity-hydrogen.html
Materials ScienceThu, 22 Sep 2016 06:22:02 ESTnews393744113Organic solar cell breakthrough gives big performance boostA patented breakthrough by researchers at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology improves the efficiency of organic photovoltaic cells by 50 percent, and could someday provide a huge boost for the viability of solar power as a major source of energy. The researchers recently published their findings in the Journal of Applied Physics.http://phys.org/news/2016-02-solar-cell-breakthrough-big-boost.html
Optics & PhotonicsMon, 22 Feb 2016 06:27:18 ESTnews375344830Self-healing sensor brings 'electronic skin' closer to realityFlexible sensors have been developed for use in consumer electronics, robotics, health care, and space flight. Future possible applications could include the creation of 'electronic skin' and prosthetic limbs that allow wearers to 'feel' changes in their environments.http://phys.org/news/2015-11-self-healing-sensor-electronic-skin-closer.html
EngineeringThu, 19 Nov 2015 06:24:22 ESTnews367136652Chameleons' swiveling eyes not as independent as once thoughtWell known among nature's best tricksters for their ability to change color to fit their background, chameleons have yet another talent up their lizardly sleeves – eyes that swivel around and appear to be looking in two directions at once.http://phys.org/news/2015-08-chameleons-swiveling-eyes-independent-thought.html
Plants & AnimalsFri, 21 Aug 2015 06:01:49 ESTnews359355701Blue light sets the beat in biological pacemakerIsraeli researchers have successfully established a new approach for pacing the heart and synchronizing its mechanical activity without the use of a conventional electrical pacemaker. This novel biologic strategy employs light-sensitive genes that can be injected into the heart and then activated by flashes of blue light.http://medicalxpress.com/news/2015-06-blue-biological-pacemaker.html
Medical researchTue, 23 Jun 2015 06:43:37 ESTnews354260609A phone so smart it sniffs out diseaseA research consortium headed by Professor Hossam Haick of the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology is developing a product that, when coupled with a smartphone, will be able to screen the user's breath for early detection of life-threatening diseases.http://phys.org/news/2015-02-smart-disease.html
EngineeringTue, 03 Feb 2015 07:10:57 ESTnews342169844Researchers find exposure to nanoparticles may threaten heart healthNanoparticles, extremely tiny particles measured in billionths of a meter, are increasingly everywhere, and especially in biomedical products. Their toxicity has been researched in general terms, but now a team of Israeli scientists has for the first time found that exposure nanoparticles (NPs) of silicon dioxide (SiO2) can play a major role in the development of cardiovascular diseases when the NP cross tissue and cellular barriers and also find their way into the circulatory system. Their study is published in the December 2014 issue of Environmental Toxicology.http://phys.org/news/2015-01-exposure-nanoparticles-threaten-heart-health.html
Bio & MedicineFri, 09 Jan 2015 08:20:01 ESTnews340012665New method solves centuries-old animal mysteryMost animal embryos contain three layers of cells that transform into every part of the body—from brains to bones to guts. Since the 19th century, biologists have been puzzling over which of these layers came first in animal evolution. We now have the answer, thanks to a powerful 21st-century technology developed at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology and deciphering the secrets of evolution may have a side benefit in helping to understand cancer.http://phys.org/news/2014-12-method-centuries-old-animal-mystery.html
Cell & MicrobiologyWed, 10 Dec 2014 14:38:12 ESTnews337444675World's smallest propeller could be used for microscopic medicineIf you thought that the most impressive news in shrinking technology these days was smart watches, think again. Scientists are quietly toiling in their laboratories to create robots that are only nanometers—billionths of a meter—in length, small enough to maneuver inside the human body and possibly inside human cells. The impact of these miraculous microscopic machines on medicine can only be imagined, but there is no doubt that it will be significant.http://phys.org/news/2014-07-world-smallest-propeller-microscopic-medicine.html
NanophysicsWed, 30 Jul 2014 10:06:16 ESTnews325933485ReWalk receives FDA approval, clearing the way for US salesThere is good news for those suffering from spinal cord injuries. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave its stamp of approval to ReWalk—the exoskeleton that enables paraplegics to walk. While the device has sparked other companies to make similar products, ReWalk, invented by Technion graduate Dr. Amit Goffer, is the first motorized exoskeleton to receive FDA approval.http://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-07-rewalk-fda-sales.html
OtherWed, 02 Jul 2014 08:40:02 ESTnews323508412"Virtual periscope" sees above-surface, airborne objects from underwater view"Up periscope!" may become a submarine commander's outdated order, thanks to a team of Technion-Israel Institute of Technology researchers who have developed a new technology for viewing objects above the water's surface without a periscope poking its head above the waves.http://phys.org/news/2014-04-virtual-periscope-above-surface-airborne-underwater.html
EngineeringTue, 29 Apr 2014 09:10:06 ESTnews317980510Researchers engineer reconstructive tissue for transplantA breakthrough by Israeli researchers could speed recovery and limit scarring and disfigurement for patients who have suffered large soft tissue trauma - as often occurs with serious injury or cancer surgery. By biomedically engineering a muscle flap that includes a patient's own blood vessels, the team has created tissue that could one day be transferred to other parts of the body along with the patient's blood supply, speeding recovery and limiting scarring for patients who have suffered serious tissue trauma.http://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-04-reconstructive-tissue-transplant.html
Medical researchMon, 07 Apr 2014 18:14:22 ESTnews316113248Free online software helps speed up genetic discoveriesDNA microarray analysis, a high-speed method by which the expression of thousands of genes can be analyzed simultaneously, was invented in the late 1980s and developed in the 1990s. Genetic researchers used a glass slide with tiny dots of copies of DNA to test match genes they were trying to identify. Because the array of dots was so small, it was called a "microarray." There is a strong correlation between the field of molecular biology and medical research, and microarray technology is used routinely in the area of cancer research and other epidemiology studies. Many research groups apply it to detect genetic variations between biological samples and information about aberrant gene expression levels can be used in what is called "personalized medicine." This includes customized approaches to medical care, including finding new drugs for gene targets where diseases have genetic causes and potential cures are based on an individual's aberrant gene's signal.http://medicalxpress.com/news/2014-03-free-online-software-genetic-discoveries.html
GeneticsWed, 12 Mar 2014 09:14:54 ESTnews313834476Unlocking the brain's secrets using sound(Phys.org) —The brain is a reclusive organ. Neurons the cells that make up the brain, nerves, and spinal cord communicate with each other using electrical pulses known as action potentials, but their interactions are complicated and hard to understand. Just getting access to the brain itself is difficult: inserting devices through the skull into the brain requires surgery. But work by Technion Professors Eitan Kimmel and Shy Shoham, and Ph.D. student Misha Plaksin, may advance our ability to unlock the brain's secrets noninvasively using sound, and perhaps create new treatments for illnesses. The findings were published today (January 21, 2014) in Physical Review X.http://phys.org/news/2014-01-brain-secrets.html
General PhysicsWed, 22 Jan 2014 11:50:02 ESTnews309611040Improved decoding of DNA for custom medical treatmentsOne day, doctors will be able to create custom medical treatment plans based on a patient's DNA, pinpointing the root of a patient's illness and making sure treatment will not cause a fatal allergic reaction. Thanks to Technion Professor Amit Meller fantasy is one step closer to being a realityhttp://phys.org/news/2013-11-decoding-dna-custom-medical-treatments.html
Bio & MedicineFri, 08 Nov 2013 09:10:02 ESTnews303121363A breakthrough in inhalation masks for infantsResearchers at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology have made a breakthrough that could lead to radical changes in the design and effectiveness of inhalation masks for infants.http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-08-breakthrough-inhalation-masks-infants.html
OtherWed, 07 Aug 2013 08:20:01 ESTnews295081481Breakthrough could lead to 'artificial skin' that senses touch, humidity and temperatureUsing tiny gold particles and a kind of resin, a team of scientists at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology has discovered how to make a new kind of flexible sensor that one day could be integrated into electronic skin, or e-skin. If scientists learn how to attach e-skin to prosthetic limbs, people with amputations might once again be able to feel changes in their environments. The findings appear in the June issue of ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.http://phys.org/news/2013-07-breakthrough-artificial-skin-humidity-temperature.html
Materials ScienceTue, 09 Jul 2013 09:20:01 ESTnews292579049Scientists develop advanced biological computer(Phys.org) —Using only biomolecules (such as DNA and enzymes), scientists at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology have developed and constructed an advanced biological transducer, a computing machine capable of manipulating genetic codes, and using the output as new input for subsequent computations. The breakthrough might someday create new possibilities in biotechnology, including individual gene therapy and cloning. The findings appear today (May 23, 2013) in Chemistry & Biology (Cell Press).http://phys.org/news/2013-05-scientists-advanced-biological.html
BiochemistryFri, 24 May 2013 08:29:55 ESTnews288602987Team develops first photonic topological insulators to protect transport of light(Phys.org) —Researchers at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology have developed and successfully demonstrated a photonic Floquet topological insulator, a new device used to protect the transport of light through a unique, lattice of 'waveguides.' The advancement may play a key role in the photonics industry. A description is published in the current issue of Nature.http://phys.org/news/2013-04-team-photonic-topological-insulators.html
Optics & PhotonicsWed, 10 Apr 2013 19:12:03 ESTnews284839913President Obama to be presented with nano-sized Declarations of IndependenceIn a ceremony to be held on Wednesday, March 20, in Jerusalem, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will present U.S. President Barack Obama with nano-sized inscribed replicas of the Declarations of Independence of the United States and the State of Israel. Created by scientists at the Technion's Russell Berrie Nanotechnology Institute (RBNI), at the request of PM Netanyahu, the Declarations appear side-by-side on a gold-coated silicon chip smaller than a pinhead. The juxtaposition symbolizes the shared values of both countries.http://phys.org/news/2013-03-obama-nano-sized-declarations-independence.html
NanophysicsTue, 19 Mar 2013 10:22:41 ESTnews282907345Reseachers develop holographic technique for bionic visionResearchers led by biomedical engineering Professor Shy Shoham of the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology are testing the power of holography to artificially stimulate cells in the eye, with hopes of developing a new strategy for bionic vision restoration.http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-02-reseachers-holographic-technique-bionic-vision.html
Medical researchTue, 26 Feb 2013 14:31:58 ESTnews281111495Amniotic sac membrane could be source for human eggsResearchers at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology say cells from the amniotic membrane part of the placenta normally discarded after a woman gives birth could one day be a source for human eggs. The first-of-its-kind discovery was published online last month in Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology (2012, 10:108).http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-01-amniotic-sac-membrane-source-human.html
Medical researchFri, 11 Jan 2013 08:26:57 ESTnews277115209Sleep apnea may offer unusual protection for heart attack patients(Medical Xpress)—People who suffer from breathing disorders such as sleep apnea are usually at higher risk for cardiovascular disease. But an intriguing new study from Technion-Israel Institute of Technology scientists suggests that some heart attack patients with these conditions may actually benefit from mild to moderate sleep-disordered breathing.http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-01-apnea-unusual-heart-patients.html
Sleep apneaThu, 03 Jan 2013 07:48:48 ESTnews276421707A new chapter of solar energy conversion and storage?(Phys.org)—Using the power of the sun and ultrathin films of iron oxide (commonly known as rust), Technion-Israel Institute of Technology researchers have found a novel way to split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. The breakthrough, published this week in Nature Materials could lead to less expensive, more efficient ways to store solar energy in the form of hydrogen-based fuels. This could be a major step forward in the development of viable replacements for fossil fuels.http://phys.org/news/2012-11-chapter-solar-energy-conversion-storage.html
Materials ScienceTue, 13 Nov 2012 07:10:05 ESTnews272011984Pig tissue scaffolding allows hearts to be rebuilt post-implant(Medical Xpress)—Using tissue from pigs, scientists at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology have created a "scaffold" that preserves the infrastructure of natural blood vessels and supports human stem cells. The result a rebuilt heart that could be used as a post-heart attack implant.http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-11-pig-tissue-scaffolding-hearts-rebuilt.html
Medical researchTue, 13 Nov 2012 07:10:01 ESTnews272012034Engineered pancreatic tissues could lead to better transplants for diabeticsTechnion researchers have built pancreatic tissue with insulin-secreting cells, surrounded by a three-dimensional network of blood vessels. The engineered tissue could pave the way for improved tissue transplants to treat diabetes.http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-08-pancreatic-tissues-transplants-diabetics.html
DiabetesWed, 15 Aug 2012 09:04:42 ESTnews264239032Researchers ID cluster of genes in blood that predict Parkinson'sBecause there is currently no laboratory test that can diagnose Parkinson's disease, it is practically impossible to detect those individuals who are in the earliest stages of the disease. As a result, Parkinson's disease can only be diagnosed by a clinical neurological examination based on findings suggestive of the disease.http://medicalxpress.com/news/2012-06-id-cluster-genes-blood-parkinson.html
Parkinson's & Movement disordersTue, 05 Jun 2012 08:29:30 ESTnews258103741New microscope may take the 'ouch' out of blood testsIf the sight of a needle makes you squeamish, researchers at the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology are developing a new optical microscope for viewing blood cells that could do away with conventional blood tests. The device, in an early prototype stage, would make it possible to collect vital blood information by simply shining a light through the skin to look directly at the blood.
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The microscope&#146;s benefits are manifold. Information is read immediately -- eliminating the waiting time for test results, and leading to earlier diagnoses. The microscope is widely accessible because it does not rely on medical labs to decipher the results. And crucial for the faint of heart &#150; the 30-second procedure eliminates the use of needles.http://phys.org/news/2012-05-microscope-ouch-blood.html
Optics & PhotonicsThu, 31 May 2012 10:00:01 ESTnews257674405